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Govt Firms up Deals for Agriculture Mechanisation, Yendi Water Projects

March 18, 2019

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

Government has reached final agreements with the India Export-Import (EXIM) Bank for the take-off of financing arrangements to improve agricultural mechanisation services in farming communities across the country and provide water for the inhabitants of Yendi and its surrounding towns and villages.

This was made known after a meeting between officials of EXIM Bank of India led by its President, Mr. David Raaquinha, and a Ghanaian delegation led by the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia on the sidelines of the ongoing 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Partnership Project in New Delhi, India.

Following a visit by H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to India last year, discussions were opened on the possibility of financing agreements between the Government of Ghana and EXIM Bank of India for a $150 million credit facility to finance the strengthening of Agriculture mechanisation services in Ghana, and a further $30 million facility for the Yendi Water Project.

Legislative approval for the two deals has since been passed by Parliament.

At a closed door meeting between Vice President Bawumia and officials of India EXIM Bank on Monday March 18, 2019, all final discussions for the take-off of the two projects were sealed with final sign off set for next month.

The agriculture mechanisation project is expected to provide equipment and training for the various Agriculture Mechanisation Services Equipment Centers (AMSEC) across the country, while the Yendi Water Project will provide water to the over 133,000 residents of the Yendi Municipality and the surrounding towns and villages who contribute to the agriculture sector through the production of food and cash crops on a large scale.

Vice President Bawumia expressed satisfaction at the commitments and assistance offered by the EXIM Bank of India and the Government of India to Ghana over the years and pledged enhanced friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, Dr. Bawumia had an interactive meeting with leaders and captains of industries in India, where he took the opportunity, together with the key stakeholders in Ghana’s investment drive, to showcase the Ghana Project and what Government is doing to create an investor-friendly environment conducive for business to thrive.

Leaders of Indian-owned companies already operating in Ghana also took the opportunity to tell the Ghana story, while providing crucial feedback on ways to make the business environment even better.

Source: www.presidency.gov.gh

‘I will Serve Your Best Interest ’- Minister Designate Assures Oti Residents

Volta Online

March 18, 2019

By: KALD|Voltaonlinegh.com|

The Minister-Designate for the Oti Region, Mr. Kwesi Owusu-Yeboah has assured to serve the best interest of all persons in the newly established region irrespective of their political, ethnic and social affiliation.

Answering questions from members of Parliament’s appointment committee during his vetting last Friday, Mr. Owusu-Yeboah who until his nomination was Ghana’s ambassador to the Republic of Togo, pledged to unite all fronts in attaining the hopes and aspirations of the new region.

“I would work to ensure that everybody comes on board, whether you’re an indigene or a settler… my performance [in the past] shows that I was nonpartisan,” he stated, adding that, “I’m a minister not for NPP but a minister for the region and I’m supposed to be a father for everybody and so there should be no difficulty [dealing with pressure from party members].”

The former Volta Regional minister under the erstwhile Kufour led government, was hopeful to leverage on his previous experience in Regional administration to lay a strong foundation for the Oti region, with critical focus on road, education and other social infrastructure development.

Mr. Owusu-Yeboah promised to mobilize both indigenes and non-indigenes in harnessing the socio-economic potentials of the area, and as well create equal opportunity for all in area of employment and the provision of other government services.

Accompanying the minister-designate to the vetting were his deputy, Mr. Maxwell Blagodzi, Krachi East Member of Parliament, Mr. Michael Gyato, Volta Regional Chairman of NPP, Mr. Makafui Woanyah as well as traditional leaders, including Chief of Kpassa, Ubour Tasan Konja VI and Krachiwura, Nana Mprah Besemuna III.

The Oti Region is one of the six newly created regions under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo with Dambai being its capital. The other regions are Western North, Ahafo, Bono East, Savannah, and North East.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

US, HTU See Victories in Volta Handball League Week 7

Volta Online

March 18, 2019

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Unique Stars (US) and Ho Technical University (HTU) handball clubs have enjoyed victories over their opponents in week 7 of the ongoing season 2 of the Volta Handball League.

Mawuko Girls and Unique Stars began the day in a rather tough first half which saw the latter lead 15-14 in the match played on Saturday, March 16.

Tactics and experience came to play as US extended their lead in the second half and stretched their opponents who tried coming back at par. The US female team enjoyed their first victory since registering, with a 33-25 results.

Their male team also ensured they beat Mawuli School in the second match of the day.

Unique Stars weren’t complacent but consistent from start to finish with a half time score at 22-08. Mawuli School Handball team who managed to score 12 more goals in the second half, lost the game in a humiliating 52-20 score.

HTU then came back to win a strong game against Stars of Asha (SOA) after going down 18-19 in the male division. The end of the super exciting encounter saw HTU triumphing 42-36.

Currently, Unique Stars male lead the table with 8 points, HTU follow with 4 points same as SOA and South Tongu Talents with 2 points. Mawuli is yet to grab a point in their 2 outings.

South Tongu Talents lead the female table with 4 points, followed by Sonrise and Unique Stars with 2 points apiece while Mawuko and HTU lie bottom with no point.

The league continues unabated on Saturday, March 23 with week 8 ties.

Meanwhile, the Volta Regional Handball Association is calling on corporate bodies to come on board to sponsor the league.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

VRA Fights Bilharzia at Dzebetato with Standalone Biofil Toilet

Volta Online

March 18, 2019

By: Tabitha Kugbonu | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta River Authority (VRA) has commissioned a 30-Standalone Biological Filter and Composter Limited (Biofil) Toilet facility at a cost of Gh¢150,000 for the people of Dzebetato in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region to solve sanitation and water related diseases especially bilharzias.

The Biofil toilet is a simple compact on-site organic waste treatment system that uniquely combines the benefits of the flush toilet system and those of the composting toilets and eliminates the disadvantages of both systems.

Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, Sam Fletcher, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), VRA on behalf of Shirley Seidu, Director, General Service Department (GSD), VRA said their aim was to eradicate the Bilharzia among communities along the Volta River.

Mad. Shirlley Seidu of VRA handing over documents to the DCE, Mr. Emmanuel Agama

Mr. Fletcher said Dzebetato was the second community to benefit from the Biofil Toilet in the region after Kebenu in the Central Tongu District which got the facility earlier.

According to him, Kebenu was recording as high as 84% of bilharzia cases and had reduced to 20% two years after Biofil toilet was installed in the community.

He observed that if Kebenu could reduce the rate within such a short time Dzebetato would in no time be bilharzia-free.

He said though VRA’s mandate is to provide electricity to every Ghanaian, they have always had the interest of communities at heart by working with communities to attain their developmental goals.

He therefore urged the people of Dzebetato to make good use of the facility.

Mr. Dennis Kwaku Buabeng, Head of Engineering at Biofil said the company had installed 8 Biofil toilets in many parts of the country and beyond.

Mr. Buabeng explained that their target groups cover different communities and cited projects done at places including Anglo-Ashanti Staff Courts, University of Cape Coast, toilets for schools under Ministry of Education, UNICEF, USAID etc and added that currently, they were working on World Bank funded project for low income communities in some 11 districts in Greater Accra Region.

District Chief Executive (DCE) for South Tongu, Emmanuel Louis Agama in a speech thanked officials of VRA for the project which he said was in line with government’s sanitation policy launched on December 13, 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo aimed at keeping the environment clean.

Mr. Agama said one of the key areas of the policy tasked MMDCEs to provide decent place of convenience for their people to prevent open defecation.

He disclosed that although the assembly had made tremendous effort towards addressing this sanitation problem, there were still lots of communities without household latrines resulting in open defecation.

The DCE expressed hope that the VRA project for the people of Dzebetato would bring total relief not just for that community but to the entire South Tongu.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Gov’t of Ghana, UNDP Hold Investment Forum at Africa Climate Week

Volta Online

March 17, 2019

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Government of Ghana and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will host an Investment Forum on Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from 18^thto 19^th March 2019 during the Africa Climate Week, which is slated from the 18^th to 22^ndMarch 2019 at the Accra international Conference Centre.

The two-day forum will discuss ways to crowd-in private sector investment for projects in Ghana that are financially viable, and that also deliver the climate solutions Ghana pledged in its Nationally Determined Contribution.

According to Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), “Ghana needs about USD 22.6 billion investments from domestic and international public and private sources to finance its climate actions, starting from 2020. About USD 6.3 billion is expected to be mobilised from domestic sources and USD 16.3 billion will come from international support and this is the best time for us to discuss how to mobilise more investment.”

The forum will be a platform to discuss and showcase proven climate solutions and investment-ready climate action projects to attract support from all relevant stakeholders and mobilise investments for climate action in Ghana.

Gita Welch, Resident Representative of UNDP Ghana said, “huge investment is required to tackle climate change globally, and this calls for innovative financing especially from the private sector to accelerate climate change adaptation and mitigation actions.”

Discussion at the forum will focus on: Scaling the Need and Investment Opportunity for Low-Carbon Transition, Increasing Climate Project Flow with Innovative Finance, Accelerating Private Sector Investment (in press conference format), Adapting to Climate Change: Resilience, Security and Finance and Climate Action and SDGs: Engaging Enterprises to Advance Nationally Determined Contributions.

Stakeholders from international/development organisations, government agencies, civil societies and academia are expected to participate in the forum.

Key speakers will include: Prof. George Gyan Baffour, Minister of Planning, Government of Ghana, Patricia Appiagye, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and John Pwamang, Acting Executive Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The others are Alhassan Andani, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Ghana and President of the Ghana Association of Bankers, Dr. Arona Soumare, Principal Climate Change and Green Growth Officer, African Development Bank, Paul Stevers, CEO Think Renewables Group and Daniel Rossetto, Founder, Paris Climate Bond.

The rest are Albert Touna Mama, Resident Representative, International Monetary Fund, Ibrahim Peghouma, Senior Regional Energy/Environment Officer for West Africa, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Ghana and Gita Honwana Welch, Resident Representative, UNDP Ghana.

The Paris Agreement requests each country to outline and communicate their post-2020 climate actions, known as their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which embody efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Investment Forum during the Africa Climate Week will officially launch and present “Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contribution Implementation and Investment Plan”, which outlines the key actions that Ghana will undertake in the next 10 years to meet its commitment to the global fight against climate change, in line with the Paris Agreement.

The Africa Climate Week will lay the groundwork for the upcoming UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit scheduled to take place during the 73^rd General Assembly in September 2019.

Source: www.gh.undp.org

The Time to Invest in Africa is now – VP Bawumia

Volta Online

March 17, 2019

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Vice President of the Republic, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged investors to constructively engage their African counterparts as the governments and peoples of the continent gear up to take their destinies in their own hands and assume their rightful places in the comity of nations.

According to Dr Bawumia, “Africa is on the move; a continent eager to shake off past failures due to blind colonial and cold-war alignments and sheer bad governance. The new scramble for Africa, according to the Economist Magazine, is now being led by a new generation of Africans determined to make a difference through technological innovations and the development of enterprise and markets.”

He added, “the Africa we want can only be built by Africans in partnerships with countries and investors who also believe in this paradigm for change.”

Vice President Bawumia issued the challenge when he addressed delegates at the ongoing 14th CII-EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership in New Delhi, India on Sunday 17th March, 2019.

The 3-day Conclave, under the theme “Partners in Development, Building New Synergies,” and organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of India, is bringing together over 500 delegates including 33 Ministers and Heads of Government from 41 African countries.

Vice President in a photo with other delegates at the 3-day conclave

Over the past 13 editions, the CII- EXIM Bank Conclave on India Africa Project Partnership has emerged as the pioneer event for Indian and African governments and industry to meet and explore new avenues of partnerships, and enables the Indian and African leadership to take stock of the progress of the partnership and address future needs.

Outlining a number of areas which would make an investment in Africa an attractive proposition, Vice President Bawumia urged participants to “let our conversation about the future move outside old boxes of doing business, and old government-business engagements”.

“Africa’s emerging markets offer great opportunities for economic growth and prosperity with over 1.2 billion people and a combined GDP of US$2.24 trillion. It is the world’s second largest and second most populous continent, and by 2050 will be the most populous continent in the world with an estimated GDP of $29 trillion. The continent is endowed with natural resources which, with the right complementary factors, can be leveraged for accelerated and inclusive economic growth.

“Africa is home to ten of the world’s fifteen fastest-growing economies and this growth rate is expected to boost consumer spending from USD 860 billion in 2008 to more than USD 1.3 trillion by 2020,” the Vice President stated.

The leaders of the continent, Vice President Bawumia indicated, had already initiated moves designed to make trading on the continent less cumbersome with the declaration of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the continental body’s long-term vision for an integrated and prosperous continent

“Considering the significance of free movement of goods, services and persons across borders to socio economic development, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a Flagship project of the African Union Agenda 2063 was launched to create a single market for Air transport in Africa. This is to allow significant freedom of air transport in Africa.”

“On 21st March 2018, in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and other African leaders had the pleasure of signing the Agreement establishing the African continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA).”

“Enhanced air connectivity, improved intra-African trade, expanded markets through continental economic integration and free movement of people, provide greater business opportunities,” he continued.

Dr. Bawumia added, “it is in this context that I encourage the relevant public officials from Ghana and India to engage in discussions that can open doors for business to business cooperation and mutually beneficial partnership engagements. This is a sure way for our two sides to explore the economic opportunities that abound in Africa and India.”

Issuing a rallying cry for constructive, productive dialogue at the 14th CII-Exim Bank Conclave, Vice President Bawumia asserted “let us leave here with concrete engagements in business partnerships in key strategic areas. Let us know what we are not doing well as governments and what can be done to strengthen business partnerships.”

To him, “together, let us push hard so we can improve the lives of ordinary citizens in India and Africa so that they too will realize that these industry conversations are also beneficial to them in the long run.”

Source: www.presidency.gov.gh

Methodist, Anglican to Battle for Final Slot in Volta Cricket League

Volta Online

March 15, 2019

By: Davis Nii Attuquaye Clottey | Voltaonlinegh.com |

Methodist Basic School and Anglican Basic School Cricket teams are set to battle for a final berth in the ongoing Volta U-12 Schools’ Cricket League on Saturday, March 16, 2019.

The encounter which is Anglican’s last match in Group A and expected to be played at the Ho Sports Stadium will see them put in much effort to grab victory in the boys category as they currently lie summit of the table with 4 points while Methodist, 3rd also with 4 points, have 2 matches left.

A win for either side will definitely be a guarantee to securing a final place, as the girls category has already been won by Ho Kpodzi Basic who recorded a 100% winning feat.

Meanwhile, in Group B, Bankoe RC, who have been inconsistent in the league will test the speed and accuracy of Mawuli in the boys’ division.

Mawuli boys team, with 6 points and a match to play, were leapfrogged by United MA with a net run rate difference, after the latter beat Dome RC on Saturday, March 9.

The only boys match on the week 8, match 4 day, saw Dome RC score 27 runs, all out, in 13.2 overs after winning toss and electing to bat first. United Ma won the match by 7 wickets with a score of 31 runs in just 5.5 overs.

In the other group B match played last weekend, Bankoe RC dashed 2 points to Heve Basic boys which became Heve’s first win in their supposed last encounter as they lost to Dome RC, United and Mawuli in succession.

The girls’ matches saw United booking a final after completing their 4 out of 4 victories and will be facing another consistent side, Ho Kpodzi from group A.

United MA won the girls game by 10 runs as Dome RC, who won toss and elected to field first scored 73 runs for 2 wickets after the former had scored 83 runs for 4 wickets.

Heve girls had a smooth game, beating Bankoe RC as the latter decided to field first after winning toss. Heve in the first innings scored 90 runs, for 3 wickets and limited Bankoe RC to a score of 45 runs, for 6 wickets, allowing Heve to win by 45 runs. Heve with the win found themselves 2nd on the Group B log with 6 points.

The 15 over single round robin league will have one more week after the penultimate matches this weekend before the finals which will have winners in both categories lift trophies.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

For once, Punish the Perpetrators-GJA to Police Administration

Volta Online

March 15, 2019

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on the Police Administration to for once, punish police officers involved in an alleged attack on journalists to “serve as deterrent to others and redeem the image of the Ghana Police Service from the shameful tag of a brutish institution.”

The call followed an alleged attack on three Ghanaian Times reporters namely: Malik Sulemana, Salifu Abdul Rahman and Raissa Sambou Ebu who were on their way for an official assignment on Thursday morning.

In a statement signed by the President of GJA, Affail Monney, the police must carry out investigations into Thursday’s incident which he described as barbaric and punish the culprits.

“We call on the Police Administration to undertake swift investigations into the incident and, for once, punish the perpetrators of such heinous crime.

“This incident must not be added to the list of unresolved cases of assault against journalists by police officers. This culture of impunity must end now,” he added.

Narrating the incident, the statement said a police officer on an unregistered motorbike, jumped trafficked and hit a Nissan saloon car belonging to the Ghanaian Times near the Kinbu Traffic, breaking the mirror and windscreen, then sped off.

The statement continued that driver of the vehicle chased and caught up with the police officer and Malik started video-recording the incident with his mobile phone which attracted the fury of the officer who punched his face causing blood to gush out from his nostril.

It further indicated that “other police officers and a soldier in uniform allegedly joined in the beating of the reporter, pushing, kicking, slapping and punching him” while “the other reporters in the vehicle – Salifu Abdul Rahaman and Raissa Sambou Ebu – were also heckled, and in the process, Raissa, a nursing mother, collapsed and was rushed to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital for treatment.”

Subsequently, Malik was handcuffed and sent to the Ministries Police Station where he was detained for hours and subjected to further assault.

The statement added that it took the intervention of ACP David Eklu, the Director-General of Public Affairs Directorate of the Ghana Police Service, and ASP Efia Tenge, the Accra Region Police Public Relations Officer to save the reporter from more torture.”

The Association said such assaults by the police who are supposed to be law enforcers must not be condoned saying, “twenty-seven years into our democratic dispensation, it is important for the police to appreciate that we live under the rule of law and not the rule of the jungle.”

The GJA reiterated its resolve to “seek justice for all journalists who have been assaulted by police officers in the past” and called on all well-meaning Ghanaians to join in condemning police brutality.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

Prez Akufo-Addo Receives Emile Short Commission Report on AWW Violence

Volta Online

March 15, 2019

Short Commission presents report — President Akufo-Addo receiving the report from Chairman of the Commission

By: Voltaonlinegh.com |

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has received the report of the Emile Short Commission of Inquiry established to inquire into the incidents of violence that occurred during the January 31, 2019, by-election in the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.

Presenting the report to President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, March 14, 2019, the Chairperson of the Commission, Justice Emile Short, was confident that “you (President Akufo-Addo) will find these findings and recommendations useful in shaping reforms for the future”.

He thanked the President “for this initiative, and commend your resolve to stamp out the evil of electoral violence from our politics.”

On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the members of the Commission, and all others associated with its work, for agreeing to provide this service to the Ghanaian people.

“The circumstances under which the unfortunate incident occurred might have proved somewhat difficult for others, but you did not hesitate to accept the assignment and the work that you have done has been in the public domain. The whole country has seen the transparent nature of the proceedings and we have all followed it, obviously with great care and attention. I am happy that at long last it has come to an end,” he said.

The President assured that “the findings and the recommendations that have been made will, of course, be given the greatest attention by me and the members of my government.”

He continued, “we have a responsibility of ensuring the maintenance of law and order in our country and that responsibility is not one that can be abdicated on any occasion, so to the extent that this Commission can help us, its findings and recommendations can help us advance the course of law and order in our country, I welcome it. It will be the subject of close study.”

The President was hopeful that “the recommendations and findings will help us on the road to ridding our nation of this canker of electoral and politically related violence, as has, unfortunately, become part of the culture of our politics. It is regrettable that that should be the case, but there it is.”

He reassured the people of Ghana Government’s continued determination to ensuring that they “can go about their normal duties, including exercising their constitutional and political rights in an atmosphere of peace and freedom.”

Source: www.presidency.gov.gh

VR NPP SEC. Backs Calls for State Burial for fmr. National NDC Chairman

Volta Online

March 14, 2019

By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |

The Volta Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Joseph Homenya has backed calls for a state burial for former Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Kwabena Adjei.

There had been suggestions from people including the Volta Regional Secretary of the NDC, James Gunu for a state burial in honour of the former Chairman who died on Tuesday morning at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

The argument for this call was that Dr. Adjei had contributed a lot to the country’s democracy and development.

Dr. Adjei before his death served as Minister of Lands and Forestry, Minister of Food and Agriculture and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.

He was also a member of the Council of Elders of the NDC, a former Member of Parliament for Biakoye Constituency, a former PNDC Deputy Secretary for Volta Region and Former PNDC Deputy Secretary for Industries, Science and Technology.

Speaking on West FM’s morning show, West Breakfast Drive on Thursday, Mr. Homenya agreed that a state burial for the late Dr. Adjei would be in place as he served the nation in his lifetime.

According to him, he believed that should the call become louder and persistent and get to the listening President Nana Akufo-Addo, he would take appropriate actions to give Dr. Adjei, a befitting burial.

The NPP Regional Secretary said this while reacting to a press release from the National announcing the upcoming Extraordinary Regional Annual Delegates Conference of the party occasioned by the recently created six new regions across the country including Oti out of the Volta Region.

The Conference slated for May 4 will have officers elected to fill vacant regional executive positions in Volta as well as Oti as according to Mr. Homenya, the current leadership has officers from both divides.

For the directives, he said that the current executives could choose to be in either Volta or Oti where they would maintain their current positions.

He continued that should any officer be desirous of contesting for a different position, s/he would have to vacate his/her current position to be eligible to contest for the new position thereby rendering the position s/he was occupying, vacant for fresh nominations to be filed.

Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com

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